BAWSHOU RESCUES THE SUN

A Chinese scholar teams up with two Australians to recount a tale about a giant boy who is born after his father's departure to retrieve the sun, which has been stolen by the King of the Devils. The father has become a new star; following after him, Bawshou—with the help of a golden phoenix and magical gifts received along the way—crosses the ``East Ocean,'' defeats the devils, and restores the sun to its rightful place. The simple, straightforward narration here is fine for telling. In her ambitious picture book debut, Powell provides boldly drawn, energetic figures and elaborate settings that include textured borders, stylized waves, serene landscapes, and even dramatic silhouettes: not always unified in style and a bit overcomplicated but mostly effective. (Folklore/Picture book. 4- 9)